Alabama closing in on great signing class

By Andrew Bone

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 11:26 p.m.

National Signing Day arrives Wednesday as the class of 2013 signs letters of intent and faxes them to schools of their choice starting bright and early. Nick Saban and his University of Alabama coaching staff have put together another outstanding class and await the decisions of a few top prospects who will announce them Wednesday.

A'Shawn Robinson, a Rivals.com five-star defensive tackle and former Texas commitment from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected to announce for Alabama. Robinson informed the Texas coaching staff over the weekend that he was no longer committed to the Longhorns. He also informed them of flipping to Alabama. Robinson plans to formerly announce his commitment at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He took an official visit to Alabama the previous weekend and also attended the Crimson Tide's game against Michigan in the season opener.

Eddie Vanderdoes, a Rivals.com five-star defensive tackle, No. 2 at his position in the country and a former Southern California commitment from Placer, Calif., will announce his decision Wednesday. He was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend for an official visit. He has also visited Notre Dame, UCLA and USC. Vanderdoes does not plan to talk with the media until he announces his college decision.

Vanderdoes posted on his Twitter account while visiting Tuscaloosa, "Man, I love it out here in T-Town. I don't know why everyone was saying I wouldn't love the South. I fit in perfect here."

Reuben Foster, a five-star linebacker from Auburn High, created a lot of buzz Saturday night when word spread quickly he was in Tuscaloosa hanging out with players and the coaching staff. Foster had left in the middle of an official visit to Auburn to visit the Crimson Tide as an unofficial visitor. Foster picked Alabama on Monday night, but nothing is official until he signs his letter of intent Wednesday. He originally committed to Alabama, flipped to Auburn, decommitted and also had Georgia on his list.

There are plenty of announcements for Alabama fans to keep a close watch on Wednesday. Several prospects will announce their college decisions on ESPNU, including Montravius Adams, a five-star defensive tackle from Dooly County High in Vienna, Ga. (8:45 a.m.); Antonio Conner, a Rivals100 safety from South Panola High in Batesville, Miss. (9:45 a.m.); Dee Liner, a Rivals100 defensive end from Muscle Shoals (11:00 a.m.); and Alvin Kamara, a Rivals100 running back from Norcross, Ga. (2:35 p.m.).

Adams trimmed his list to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Georgia. Conner will decide between Alabama and Ole Miss. Liner, a former Auburn commitment, made his only official visit to Alabama. Kamara will choose between Alabama and Georgia.

Jarran Reed, a three-star junior college defensive tackle from East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss., will also announce Wednesday. Reed decommitted from Ole Miss over the weekend. He is focused on Alabama and Florida. Reed took a surprise official visit to Alabama the previous weekend and returned Friday night for an unofficial visit.

Several other schools in the Southeastern Conference are expected to finish strong on signing day. A couple of surprise top-10 classes will likely include Auburn and Ole Miss.

The Tigers held on to the commitment of Carl Lawson, a five-star defensive end from Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., after an official visit to the Plains over the weekend. They also added his teammate Peyton Barber, a three-star running back.

Ole Miss expects to land a commitment from Robert Nkemdiche, a five-star defensive end from Grayson High in Loganville, Ga. The Rebels are also expected to land Laremy Tunsil, a five-star offensive tackle from Columbia High in Lake City, Fla. They can possibly flip Chris Jones, a five-star defensive end from Houston, Miss., who is a longtime Mississippi State commitment.

Johnathan Ford, a four-star running back and former Vanderbilt commitment from New Hope, will announce his decision on Wednesday for Auburn or Tennessee. The Volunteers also have a strong shot to land Vonn Bell, a five-star safety from Ridgeland High in Rossville, Ga.

TideSports.com will host an all-day recruiting chat Wednesday for subscribers. Now is the perfect time to join if you are not already on board and following Cecil Hurt, Chase Goodbead, Andrew Bone, Aaron Suttles and Tommy Deas.

Reach Andrew Bone at andrew@tidesports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewJBone

<p>National Signing Day arrives Wednesday as the class of 2013 signs letters of intent and faxes them to schools of their choice starting bright and early. Nick Saban and his University of Alabama coaching staff have put together another outstanding class and await the decisions of a few top prospects who will announce them Wednesday.</p><p>A'Shawn Robinson, a Rivals.com five-star defensive tackle and former Texas commitment from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected to announce for Alabama. Robinson informed the Texas coaching staff over the weekend that he was no longer committed to the Longhorns. He also informed them of flipping to Alabama. Robinson plans to formerly announce his commitment at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He took an official visit to Alabama the previous weekend and also attended the Crimson Tide's game against Michigan in the season opener. </p><p>Eddie Vanderdoes, a Rivals.com five-star defensive tackle, No. 2 at his position in the country and a former Southern California commitment from Placer, Calif., will announce his decision Wednesday. He was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend for an official visit. He has also visited Notre Dame, UCLA and USC. Vanderdoes does not plan to talk with the media until he announces his college decision. </p><p>Vanderdoes posted on his Twitter account while visiting Tuscaloosa, "Man, I love it out here in T-Town. I don't know why everyone was saying I wouldn't love the South. I fit in perfect here." </p><p>Reuben Foster, a five-star linebacker from Auburn High, created a lot of buzz Saturday night when word spread quickly he was in Tuscaloosa hanging out with players and the coaching staff. Foster had left in the middle of an official visit to Auburn to visit the Crimson Tide as an unofficial visitor. Foster picked Alabama on Monday night, but nothing is official until he signs his letter of intent Wednesday. He originally committed to Alabama, flipped to Auburn, decommitted and also had Georgia on his list. </p><p>There are plenty of announcements for Alabama fans to keep a close watch on Wednesday. Several prospects will announce their college decisions on ESPNU, including Montravius Adams, a five-star defensive tackle from Dooly County High in Vienna, Ga. (8:45 a.m.); Antonio Conner, a Rivals100 safety from South Panola High in Batesville, Miss. (9:45 a.m.); Dee Liner, a Rivals100 defensive end from Muscle Shoals (11:00 a.m.); and Alvin Kamara, a Rivals100 running back from Norcross, Ga. (2:35 p.m.). </p><p>Adams trimmed his list to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Georgia. Conner will decide between Alabama and Ole Miss. Liner, a former Auburn commitment, made his only official visit to Alabama. Kamara will choose between Alabama and Georgia. </p><p>Jarran Reed, a three-star junior college defensive tackle from East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss., will also announce Wednesday. Reed decommitted from Ole Miss over the weekend. He is focused on Alabama and Florida. Reed took a surprise official visit to Alabama the previous weekend and returned Friday night for an unofficial visit. </p><p>Several other schools in the Southeastern Conference are expected to finish strong on signing day. A couple of surprise top-10 classes will likely include Auburn and Ole Miss. </p><p>The Tigers held on to the commitment of Carl Lawson, a five-star defensive end from Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., after an official visit to the Plains over the weekend. They also added his teammate Peyton Barber, a three-star running back. </p><p>Ole Miss expects to land a commitment from Robert Nkemdiche, a five-star defensive end from Grayson High in Loganville, Ga. The Rebels are also expected to land Laremy Tunsil, a five-star offensive tackle from Columbia High in Lake City, Fla. They can possibly flip Chris Jones, a five-star defensive end from Houston, Miss., who is a longtime Mississippi State commitment. </p><p>Johnathan Ford, a four-star running back and former Vanderbilt commitment from New Hope, will announce his decision on Wednesday for Auburn or Tennessee. The Volunteers also have a strong shot to land Vonn Bell, a five-star safety from Ridgeland High in Rossville, Ga. </p><p>TideSports.com will host an all-day recruiting chat Wednesday for subscribers. Now is the perfect time to join if you are not already on board and following Cecil Hurt, Chase Goodbead, Andrew Bone, Aaron Suttles and Tommy Deas. </p><p><i>Reach Andrew Bone at andrew@tidesports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewJBone</B></p><p></p><p><a href=”http://alabama.rivals.com/default.asp” target=”_blank”>For more recruiting coverage, see TideSports.com</a></p><p><a href="http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=885&CID=1419830"><img src="http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1034/1308039.jpg" border=0></a></p>